Removing
the 3SGTE

While my goal is to make some major
changes to the stock MR2 powerplant, I'll try to keep the removal process
pretty straightforward. Later on I will be removing many OEM components,
but I feel this guide will be a bit more useful if I pretend that I
am going to remove and reinstall a stock motor, rather than rip everything
out at once.

I used the BGB as a reference, but the folks who wrote the BGB didn't seem
to have the owner/mechanic in mind. Their sequencing has you performing
tasks on the upper part of the motor, then the lower, then the upper,
etc. Even if you have the car on a lift, you want to avoid making all
those changes if they are unnecessary. Also,
the BGB describes
the removal of many more components than required. I can't find much to
recommend their procedure.

Generally, you'll remove/detach everything that is easily reachable from
the top of the motor while it is on the ground. I favor unbolting brackets
that hold electrical components and lowering them with the motor vs.
trying to disconnect all the different electrical connectors Toyota chose
to employ. It's easier, faster, and less likely to cause damage.

The car will then be
raised high enough to drain the fluids. That will enable you to disconnect the
coolant hoses, drop the rear suspension, and disconnect components from
the underside of the car. Finally, the car will be raised even higher, enough for
the motor to clear when it is lowered.

I hope I haven't missed any steps, but remember that this is just a guide
-- you are responsible for what you do to your own vehicle!
If you spot any errors, or have any comments to make, please send them to
the webmaster.

Finally, one recommendation: Don't trust your memory! Mark every bolt you
remove. I've found over the years that small parts bags are about the best
way. You can get them at McMaster-Carr
or other supply houses, and they are an invaluable way to keep all the
parts together:
Where possible, replace the bolts you remove into the position they came
from. This avoids bagging them, and also keeps them handy during
reassembly.

Ground Rules

A few simple
rules:

While much, if not
all, of this work can be done by a single person, working alone
carries risks with it, so get some help when the more dangerous operations
like lifting the car, removing the suspension components, and motor/trans
removal are being performed.

I recommend
removing all but a couple gallons of fuel. Sometimes, a disconnected fuel
line will cause fuel to begin
siphoning out of the tank. If you think
this will be only a quart or so, and have a only small container to catch the
fuel, you could be in for a big surprise. I like to use a container that can
hold all of the fuel in the tank, just to be safe.

When I refer to bolts as "14mm" or
"17mm", I am referring to the size of the bolt head -- the
"wrench" size. If I need to refer to
the actual thread of the bolt, I will use different terminology, e.g.,
M10 - 1.25 x 45mm bolts.

Directionally,
"Front" refers to the front of the car, "Rear" to the rear. "Left" refers to
the left side of the car when standing behind it, and "Right" refers to the
opposite side.

It's usually more
efficient to crack loose the mounting bolts for a component, then go back
and remove them. Some of these bolts are very tight, and you'll find that
loosening tight bolts when the other bolts have already been
removed can be a real pain.

Tools/Materials
Needed

Besides a
standard collection of mechanics tools (wrenches, sockets, screwdrivers,
pliers, etc.), it will help if you have the following tools:

Floor jack capable
of lifting car very high -- 24" or more

Tall, heavy-duty
jack stands (24" height)

Flexible plastic
putty knife

Large crowbar

Sturdy mechanic's
creeper for supporting the motor

32mm (1-¼")
6-point socket for axle nuts

Engine hoist or
crane and lifting chain/hooks

Doing It

Disconnect the negative battery
cable.

Remove the engine lid and the side
covers to provide access to the top of the motor:

Remove the strut braces by removing the 14mm
bolts on the forward firewall, and the 14mm nuts on the tops of the strut
mounts:

Loosen the clamps on the "bellows" hose that
connects the AFM to the turbo and cam cover breather hose, as shown below:

Disconnect the breather hose. It should come
apart easily, as it is slippery with oil inside.

The air intake hose may be stuck to the AFM and elbow. I used a very
flexible plastic putty knife and worked it around the hose to separate it.
Avoid tools that would scratch the metal or tear the hose.

Loosen the clamp that attaches the elbow to
the turbo compressor, and remove the two smaller hoses that enter the
elbow from the side:
Remove the elbow and set it aside for now.

Reach down onto the transaxle, and locate
two 12mm bolts that attach the clutch slave cylinder to the transaxle
case. Only one is visible. The other is hidden beneath a couple of
hoses, as shown below:
Here's a shot showing a ratchet removing the hidden bolt, which gives you
a better idea of its location:
Remove both of the bolts. They are of different lengths (the shorter one
nearer the right side of the motor), so mark them after removal.

Replace the turbo compressor intake elbow to
provide protection for the exposed compressor wheel. Stick a rag in the
elbow to prevent anything from falling into the turbo.

Detach the electrical plug that connects to the AFM. Here's the standard
warning:

DO NOT UNSCREW THE TWO PHILLIPS SCREWS!
This plug is attached with a spring clip, and is easily removed with a
small, flat-bladed screwdriver:

The top of the air cleaner case is attached with four spring clips:
These clips can generally be unsnapped with your fingers.

When they are
loose, remove the top of the case to expose the air cleaner element:

Remove the element to reveal three 12mm bolts attaching the lower half of
the air cleaner case to the body:
Remove these bolts. The air cleaner case connects to the airbox with a
duct:
There's not a lot of free space, but if you pull up on the back of the air
cleaner case, you'll be able to slide the duct out of the airbox. You
might need to loosen the nut that secures the airbox to the forward
firewall:

Here's the result:
Oops! Where's that rag that's supposed to be stuck in the turbo intake?

There are four clamps securing the
intercooler hoses, which Toyota calls the No. 1 and No. 2 Intake Air
Connectors:
Loosen all four and remove the hoses.

Next to the intercooler is the cruise
control "carousel":
Remove the single Phillips screw that retains the plastic cover.

Loosen the 12mm lock nuts, then detach both of the throttle cables by
unhooking the cable ends: